DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 September 1927, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Pet Press Association.)

EDUCATIONAL

AUCKLAND, Sept. 8

Grave concern was expressed by the Auckland branch of the Now Zealand Educational Institute at the annual meeting this morning, at the tendency towards centralization in educational matters and a resolution was passed indicating the Institute was convinced any attempt to curtail the powers of Education Boards as at present constituted, was inimical to the best interests of education in New Zealand.

AN ASSAULT. AUCKLAND, Sept. 9. At tlie Police Court, Melrov Snn'ilie. aged 23, was charged with assaulting Sophie Shepherd and causing actual bodily harm. The police stated accused was keeping company with Shepherd and yesterday lie struck her with a hammer, inflicting a deep cut on her head, not very serious, but slie was in tlie hospital. Smillie had two sheath knives when arrested. He stated he was going to take his own life. Accused was remanded, bail being refused.

WIFE DESERTER. AUCKLAND, Sept. S. •Tulin Cameron Brown, 26, appeared to answer a complaint by bis wife of failure to maintain herself and infant and a request for a guardianship order. Counsel for the wife said accused left her on Jnauary 20th. 1923, destitute with a. six weeks’ old baby. She bad not seen him since, till he was arrested at Takapuna yesterday. Brown was stated to have since married another woman, by whom he had two children. The Magistrate made a. maintenance cider of 30s per week and suggested lie should bo prosecuted for wife desertion.

EUCHARTSTIC CONG RESS. PREPARATIONS IN SYDNEY. AUCKLAND, Sept. 7. Although the 1928 Eucharistic Congress. to bo held in Sydney, Is a year off, elaborate preparations are now be ing made for the reception of the hundreds of delegates expected from all parts of tbe world, and the vast organisation required is well advanced, according to Bishop Whyte, Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, who returned from a visit to Australia by tlio Ulitnaroa.

Bishop Whyte said that although lie went primarily on a. holiday visit to the Commonwealth ho was able to gain some insight into the magnitude of tlie work confronting the organisers. Already committees were at work dealing with the question of accommodation, music. literature, and many other matters. Tn spite of the fact that hundreds of visitors would flock to the capital of New South Wales, no trouble was expected about ac-

commodation providing early arrangements were made. While, ho was there two meetings, attended by priests «p----pointed by churches from all parks of tbe Commonwealth, were held, and arrangements discussed. Father Meany, organising secretary, was sent to Chicago last year, where he a ltended the Eucharistic Congress to gain experience in organisation. His advice was proving very valuable and would materially assist in making tbe

Congress a success. “Wo expect a large delegation from Now Zealand, both clergy and laypeople.” stated Bishop Whyte. “Tlio Congress will be bold next September and already there is the greatest enthusiasm, which augurs well for ils success.” While in Melbourne. Bishop Whyte was the guest of Archbishop Mannix and in Sydney stayed with Monsignor Coonan,

LAND VALLES. ' TENDENCY TO O A’B R, -VALUA TT OX. WELLINGTON, Copt. 7. In his report on the Lands for Scti Clement Art, 1925, Mr J. B. Thnmp- ; son, the Land Purchase Controller, writes as follows: “Although it cannot yet. bo said that land values generally are on a thoroughly satisfactory basis, indications are not wanting that a more 1 reasonable view is being taken by private owners of the value of their estates. The action taken by the Crown in the revaluation of properties held by discharged soldiers lias undoubtedly bad a. good effect, but a wider realisation is yet needed on the part of any owners and mortgagees of tho necessity of writing down land mortgage values in conformity with tile productive capacity of the land. The prices asked for properties offered to the Crown during the year were in many cases too high to permit of favourable consideration, while, some properties quite unsuitable for subdi-' vision were placed under offer. “Successful subdivision presents many difficulties under prevailing conditions, and can only be accomplished when suitable land can be acquired e.t prices that will permit of a fair return on the capital outlay, plus the additional charges that are inseparable from the cutting up of estates. There arc, however, a. fair number of estates in the Dominion that possess ■ attractive qualities from a cut-ting-up point of view, and the Land Purchase Board is always willing to give the most careful consideration to the purchase of suitable properties. “As was to he expected, the late feeling of uncertainty regarding stability of products and values has made the Board conservative in its purchases.”

THE ELECTORATES. SOUTH ISLAND PROPOSAL. WELLINGTON, Sept. 8. A proposal that a new system of representation should ho adopted with a view to placing the South Island on a better footing was made by tho deputation of South Island members to Mr Coates and Mr Williams.

MY Sidey said it was proposed that the South Island representation should ho left at thirty, the present figure, and that the North Island representation should depend on the increase in | population. It might be estimated that : by 1946, the population of the North Island would he double that of the ; South. This would mean there would i ho sixty members for the North and j thirty for the South. Mr Sidey said | there was no precedent for tse proposal in Quebec. | Mr Contes said he did not propose ; to discuss the matter at this stage. He had gone into it with Mr McLeod, and would further discuss it with a view to seeing what could he done. Ho recognised the position, the South Island was in, and the difficulties that were likely to arise. He remembered the time when North Island electorates were so large that members were up against the same difficulties as the South Island at the present time. It was largely a matter of communications. The whole matter would be considered again, and he hoped to be in a position to make a statement before very long. It might- be desirable to hold back the Legislature Amendment Bill, with a view to having the matter further considered.

TRUCES DERAILED. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 8. Five trucks, part of a long goods train, jumped tbo points on No 3 track near Addington station this afternoon. ono overturning and the others balancing at a dangerous angle. Three carriages were attached to the train, but they were unoccupied and stayed on the rails. The accident occurred during shunting operations. The North line was blocked, hut the quick work of railwayman cleared the track before any serious delay was caused. RAGLAN LIBERAL CANDIDATE. WELLINGTON. Sept, 8, Thomas Parker, of Ngaruawahia, lias, been announced as the Liberal candidate for the Raglan seat, by Mr AY. A. A r eitch, M.P., Leader of the Liberal Party.